Tile and brick machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' A. w. BODELL. TILE AND BRICK MACHINE. l

3 Sheets-Sheet, 2.

(NoMael.) l

` A.1W. BODELL.A

TILE AND BRICK MACHINE.

Patented July 17, 1883..,l

IIHIHIIIIH N. PETERS, Huw-maplin Wnhnglm. D. C.

(No Model.) 3 Sheet--Sheet 3.

. A. W. BODELL.

TILE AND BRICK MACHINE.

Patented .July 17, 1883.

' aya l N. PEIKRS. Ptmvmhognpher. washington. D4 C.

i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

ALLEN w. EODELL, OE rrOLEEo, AssrGNoE or ONE-HALE To rHiLo P. EUsH,

` OE cANToN, OHIO. y l

TILE AND BRICK MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 281,606, dated July 17, 1883.

Application filed June 27, 1882. (No model.)

1o it appertains to make and use the same,l reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or gures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

I The present invention relates to that Aclass of tile and brick machines in which a pug-millV surmounts a horizontal press-box containing a reciprocating plunger or `follower that serves to alternately force a slab of clay through dies :2o located at the ends of said press-box.

The obj ect of the invention is to simplify the construction of 'machines of the above class and reduce the size of the operative parts without lessening the working capacity of the ma- 2 5 chine.

To these ends the invention consists in a double-headed plunger or follower operated from .the shaft of the pug-mill in such a manner that its motion is arrested when the clay 3o is being fed into the press-chamber in front of theplunger. rIhe devices for communicating motion to the plunger consist, essentially7 of a cam of a peculiar shape mounted-on the pugmill shaft, and having a shiftable gudgeon or wrist-pin which travels in a slanting slot in a cross-bar or plate of the plunger.

Another feature of the invention is a cut-off located belowthe feed-openings in the bottom ofthe puddling-mill and forming part of the 4o plunger, said cutoff having along slot for the passage of the operating-shaft, and serving to prevent the clay from falling in rear of the plunger, a second cut-off being tted on the operating-shaft, above the feed-openings, to pre- 4 5 vent the clay from falling through the slot in the lower cut-off when the plunger comes beneath either feed-opening of the puddlingmill.

The inventionfurther consists in a plunger 5o having adjustable packing strips or plates of the brick-iinishing table.

a peculiar shape for simultaneously packing all the sides of the plunger by one adjustment of the strips.

The invention further consists in a die for preparing a slab of clay suitable for cutting into bricks, that comprises an inner die fitted into an opening in the head of the press-chamber, and connected with an-outer finishing-die having a tube for conducting a lubricant into the passage of the finishing-die. The flow of 6o the lubricant takes place intermittently, and is affectedby causing the finishing-die to recede slightly from the inner die when the mass lof clay is forced through the same.

The invention further consists in a brick and 6 5 tile finishing mechanism comprising a table traversed by lubricating channels or grooves, and a hinged frame carrying cutters for severing the slab of clay issuing from the presschamber into bricks or tiles.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved machine organized in the present instance for making bricks. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the puddling-mill. 7 5

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the plunger or follower. Fig. 4 is an end view of the same exhibiting the adjustable packing-strips. Fig. 5 is a face View of the driving-cam and its shiftable gudgeon or wrist-pin.

for connecting it with the puddling-mill shaft.

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the clay grinding or tempering arm. Fig. S is a plan view of sectional view of the double brick-die. l() and l1 illustrate tile-dies.

rlhe letter A designates a rectangular press box or casing having openings at its ends for Figs.

Fig. 6 is a front 8o view of the feed-shovel and its arm and collar Fig. 9 is a vertical 8 5 receiving interchangeable dies for forming 9o tiles and brick-slabs. rIhe press-box is surmounted by a pug-mill consisting of a cylindrical clay-receiver, B, avertical shaft, C, and devices for grinding or tempering the clay and feeding the same into the press-chamber. latter contains a double-headed plunger or follower, D, which is reciprocated back and forth and forces the clay through the dies located at either .end of the press-box. This plunger is of a peculiar construction, and is so combined roo The with actuating devices that at the limit of its inward stroke it will reach the inner edge of a feed-opening, E, in the bottom of the png-mill or top of the press-box, and remain stationary until the proper amount of clay has been fed into the press-chamber through the feedopening in front of the plunger. Immediately thereafter the plunger makes its effective or forward stroke and forces the clay through the die at the end of the press-chamber, and conjointly with the stroke of the plunger for expelling the clay. The feed-opening at the other end of the plunger is uncovered to permit the feeding devices on the pug-mill shaft to deliver clay into the press-chamber through this second feed-opening in readiness to be expelled by the movement of the plunger toward the other end of the press-box.

The plunger consists of two end heads, a connecting bar or plate, F, located midway between said heads, and a top plate, G. The plate F has a transverse slot, H, of the peculiar shape shown more fully in Fig. 3, and the top plate, G, is provided with a straight longitudinal slot, l, extending the entire distance between the two heads of the plunger. The shaft C of the paddling-mill passes through the aforesaid slot or opening .I and terminates between the two plates F G, and carries at its lower end a cam, J, which is provided with a gudgeon or wrist-pin, J projecting into or through the slot H in the plate F. This slot extends across the plunger in a sla-nting direction, and is slightly curved in opposite directions from the center of the slot or opening to the ends thereof, as is shown in Fig. 3, so that when the plunger is at the limit of its inward` stroke and the clay is being fed into the presschamber the gudgeon of the cam will, by the revolution of the operating-shaft, pass from the center of said slot toward either end thereof without coming in contact with or actuating the plunger. In this way the plunger is held in a state of rest while the feeding of the clay is taking place, and it does not commence to make the effective stroke until the gudgeon has reached the end of the slot.

One side of the cam J is cut away or made straight, as is shown at j, so as to permit the end heads of the plunger to come as close as possible to the puddling-mill shaft, or, in other words, to enable the longitudinal area of the press-box, puddling-mill, and plunger to be reduced without decreasing the space in which the clay is received, and the plunger makes its stroke for expelling the same. The slot I in the upper plate, G, also assists in attaining the above-mentioned result, since it is evident that the shaft can pass freely through and rotate in the space between the plates F and G of the plunger. The upper plate, G, acts as a cutoff to prevent the passage of clay in rear of the plunger, and a second cut-off or disk, K, fitted on the puddling-m-ill shaft and traveling above the feed-openings in the press-box, prevents the passage of clay into the plunger through the slot in the cut-off plate G.

It will be observed that the upper cut-off plate is so located that it will come above either of the feed-openings when the plunger has passed immediately thereunder.

The device for feeding the clay into the press-chamber consists of a shovel, L, and a connecting arm or sweep, M, extending from a hub, N, fitted on the pug-mill shaft. The front face of this shovel is inclined in a rearward direction, so as to properly force the clay through the feed-openings, and the arm connecting it with the hub 011 the shaft extends from said hub in an oblique direction, so that it will have a tendency to force the clay from the center of the pug-mill out to the wall. The end of the shovel extends below the arm M, and the latter, in addition to being placed obliquely, as above mentioned, has a beveled front face, and its lower edge is notched or eut away, as shown at m in Fig. 6. The object of this notch is to permit the clay accumulating under said arm during its sweep or movement from one feed-opening to the other to pass in rear of said arm, so as not to bind the feeding devices or retard their movement.

For grinding and tempering the clayI make use of a series of arms, N', arranged around the pug-mill shaft, and providedwith beveled front faces and rearwardly-inclined cuttingteeth u. These teeth act upon the clay with a draw cut, and their shape permits them to pass through the material more easily than ordinary straight teeth. Clogging by roots or twigs is also obviated.

In a machine organized for making tile I. can use any approvedform of die at the ends of the press-box, but have illustrated in the present instance two forms which I preferably use, since they possess certain advantages.

The die-plate O (shown in Fig. 10) has an opening provided with three straight sides and a curved top portion; also, a central corepiece, P, connected with a bridge, p, 011 the inside of die-plate. A square tenon on the bridge p fits into a corresponding seat in the core-piece, and a screw passed into said tenon from the inside of the core-piece secures the latter.

A die shaped as above described will make a tile having three straight sides and a rounded portion, which combines the advantages of square and cylindrical tiles. The openings in the dieplate Q, Fig. l1, are V-shaped, and are designed for forming roofing and other tiles. Buttonst 011 the ends of the press-box secure the Various die-plates in the openings made therein.

In a machine organized for making brick, as shown in Fig. 1, I make use of a die for preparing a slab or bar of clay which is-subsequently eut into bricks. This die, as represented in Fig. 9, consists of an inner plate, S, having a rectangular opening, and an outer finishing-die, T, connected with said plate S in such a manner that it will have a limited movement to and from the same for the object hereinafter stated. The opening through the IOO finishing-die has rounded corners at its inner side, or the side adj oining the inner die-plate,S,

whereas the outer corners are square for producing a square bar of clay with clean-cut edges. The rounded corners prevent the clay from tearing when not properly tempered. Ihe inner die-plate carries at its upper end a spout or tube, U, having a top aperture for the attachment of a, cup containing a lubricating-liquid, or a tube extending to a lubricant-receiver. The end of this tube is open and abuts against an elastic packing or washer, u, placed between the tube and a top ledge ofthe finishing-die. Grooves or channels V in the top of the finishing-die have bottom discharge-openings for conducting the lubricating-liquid first admitted into said channels into vertical and horizontal grooves V2, made in the side walls of the opening through the finishing-die. Stems or rods s, attachedto the finishing-die, pass through the inner die-plate, and rubber or other springs, '00, generally encircle said stems for drawing the two die-plates together.

` It is obvious that when a body of clay is passing through the die -plate the friction thereof and the pressure of the follower in rear ofthe mass will tend to push the finishingdie plate away from the end of the lubricating-spout, so that the liquid can pass into the interior of the die through the openings and channels heretofore mentioned. The removal of pressure from the die will shut off the flow of the lubricating-fluid by causing the springs m and the elastic washer u to return the dieplates to their normal positions.

For cutting the slab of clay into bricks I make use of a table, W, which has suitable supporting-legs, w, and is connected with the end of the press-box by pivoted arms wz and braces w, fitted into notches or ratchet-plates w* on the press-box. A cutter-frame, Y, eonsisting of a series of arms, y, having bottom projections, y', for the attachment of cuttingwires y2, is hinged to the side of the table by a longitudinal rod, ya. This cutter-frame cuts the slab of clay into bricks when pressed down upon it, and openings y* in the table-bed permit the wire cutters to pass entirely through the clay, so as to make the cutting operation complete.

In -order to properly lubricate the mass of clay passing over the table, I provide the same with longitudinal side channels, 105, and transverse channels w, leading therefrom, these side channels intersecting with short longitudinal channels wl, extending to the openings in the table-bed. Absorbent or porous material w8 is generally placed at the intersection of the channels w wl for preventing a too free flow of the lubricant. The latter' is obtained from a suitable receiver placed above or near the table-bed.

Again referring to the plunger` it will be seen from Fig. 4 that it is provided with packing strips or plates Z at one side and at the bottom, which plates are made in one piece, and are provided with inclined slots z, through which pass screws z', penetrating the end heads of the plunger. By loosening these screws and adjusting the packing-strips all sides of the plungerare packed and a tight joint insured between the plunger andthe press-box casing. Adjustable packing-strips have heretofore been used, but have always been made in separate parts, so as to require an independent adjustment for both sides.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a brick or tile machine, the combination of the reciprocating plunger or follower D, having ahorizontal plate, F, provided with a slanting or scroll-shaped slot, H, for the object stated, with the operating or pug-mill shaft G, having a cam, J, and gudgeon J', the press-box A, having two feed-openings, and devices for feeding the clay through said openings and cutting it off therefrom, substantially as herein set forth.

2. In a brick or tile machine, the combination of the pug-mill or operating shaft C, having a straight-sided cam, J, with shiftable gudgeon J', the reciprocating plunger D, having the top cut-off, G, provided with the straight slot I, and theV lower connecting-plate, F, provided with the slanting or scroll-shaped slot H, with the press-box A, having two feedopenings, E E, and the upper cut-off, K, on the operating-shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the right-angled packing-strip Z, having inclined slots z and'screws z, with the reciprocating plunger D and pressbox A, as and for the purpose specified.

4. A brick-die comprising an inner die-plate having an apertured spout or tube, and an outer finishing-die adjustably connected with said inner die, and provided with channels and holes for distributing lubricating material to the clay-passage of said die, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The nishing-die having spring-encircled stems and an elastic packing-washer, in combination with the inner die having a lubricantconductor, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a brick-machine, the combination of a finishing-table having top channels for the distribution of a lubricating-liquid, and a cutterframe hinged to said table, with a press-box and devices for expelling a slab of clay therefrom, as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALLEN W. BODELL.

Witnesses: Y

AUSTIN LYNcH', WILLIAM A. LYNCH.

IOO 

